Method and apparatus for sampling of electrical signals

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sampling of an electrical signal (4) in order to obtain at least one signal weighted together from two or more samples, in which in a first step the electrical signal is connected to a number of capacitors (C1, C2) connected in parallel. In a second step, one capacitor is disconnected from the electrical signal at each time of sampling (6, 7, 8, 9) and in a third step, when the sampling is completed, the capacitors are connected together. In this manner, one or more signals weighted together are generated in dependence of the charge of the capacitors when they are disconnected from the electrical signal and of the capacitances of the capacitors.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sampling of electrical signals according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 8 respectively. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In fields such as radar engineering and telecommunication, information exists in the form of carrier frequency signals. In order to extract the information the signal must be demodulated, which is most often achieved by down-mixing to the frequency 0, so-called baseband or "zero-IF" systems. Often the down-mixing is performed in two steps, first from high frequency to an intermediate frequency and thereafter to the baseband. In the above systems, the information exists both in the amplitude of the signal and in its phase. A simple envelope detection is therefore not sufficient. For this reason the last down-mixing is performed in two mixers in which one of them is supplied with the intermediate frequency signal and a reference signal and the second with the intermediate frequency signal and the reference signal phase-shifted 90°. The frequency of the reference signal is then equal to the centre frequency of the intermediate frequency. The result is two orthogonal signals which can be regarded as a complex representation of the baseband signal in which both amplitude and phase information are preserved. As a rule, these signals are called I- (In-phase) and Q-(Quadrature) signals. As modern signal processing almost exclusively uses digital technology, the I- and Q-signals are converted into digital form in an analogue/digital converter, after which the signal processing, for example filtering, is performed. In many applications, and especially in radar applications, the requirements for amplitude equality and phase orthogonality between the I- and Q-signals are very high. This implies that some kind of automatic, active calibration procedure usually is used. The calibration procedure consumes signal processing capacity and also requires certain additional equipment. It is therefore desirable to eliminate the need for calibration. One method of eliminating the calibration need is to perform the analogue/digital conversion directly on the inter-mediate frequency signal and thereafter split up the obtained signal samples into one I- and one Q-value by means of digital filters. Examples of apparatus which utilize this method are described in the patent documents EP-109121 and UK2176362. Even this method has drawbacks. The use of the method is thus limited due to limitations in the conversion rate of the analogue/digital converters in combination with accuracy. The requirements as regards rate for the logics in the digital filters are also high. The rate requirements lead to an increased power requirement. The object of the now present invention is therefore to eliminate the need for filtering in order to provide quadrature signals from an amplitude modulated carrier signal and to reduce the requirements on the analogue/digital conversion rate at the same time as high requirements are met regarding accuracy in the I- and Q-channels and very low power consumption. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Said object is achieved by a method for sampling of an electrical signal according to the present invention, the characteristics of which are defined in appended claim 1. Said object is also achieved by an apparatus for sampling of an electrical signal according to the present invention, the features of which are defined in appended claim 9. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows in a time diagram an amplitude modulated carrier. Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of a sampling apparatus according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT By way of introduction, the theoretical background of the invention will be described in connection with Fig. 1. The diagram in Fig. 1 shows an amplitude-time diagram 1 with a time axis 2, a signal amplitude axis 3 and an amplitude modulated carrier signal 4, the envelope of which is denoted by 5. The carrier signal 4 is assumed to be sampled at four points in time, at which the first time of sampling is denoted by the reference number 6 and the second up to and including the fourth time of sampling are denoted by 7, 8, 9 respectively. At the times of sampling, the amplitude of the carrier signal is a6, a7, a8, a9 respectively. The interval between the times of sampling is here assumed to be 1/4 of the period of the carrier signal. As 1/4 of the period corresponds to 90°, the amplitude values a6 and a7 may be regarded as, for example, an I/Q pair in which I=a6 and Q=a7. However, this simple method leads to great errors. The I/Q values are indeed orthogonal but they relate to different points in time (6 and 7 respectively) and represent therefore different amplitudes of the envelope. By known methods it is however possible to calculate filter functions which calculate I/Q-pairs related to the same time of sampling by means of several samples. The methods utilize the fact that the filtered signals can be described mathematically by means of series developments in which the terms of the series consist of weighted values of the samples. When calculating the weighting coefficients, the present accuracy requirements determine how many terms, and thereby samples, that shall be included. With the earlier mentioned four samples, the following expression for I and Q may be derived: I = (a6-3·a8)/4 Q = (-3·a7+a9)/4 This I/Q pair gives a correct interpolation of a linearly or quadratically varying signal which represents the amplitude at a point in time "7,5" i.e. halfway between the points in time 7 and 8, for both I and Q with a maintained orthogonality. In order to consider terms of a higher degree in the series development that represents the envelope of the input signal, more samples can be taken. If an additional two samples with the amplitudes al0 and all are taken, the following the expression can be derived: I = (a6-10·a8+5·a10)/16 Q = (5·a7-10·a9+a11)/16 which also gives a correct value for a cubically varying signal. The expressions represent an I/Q pair which relates to a time of sampling halfway between the samples a8 and a9. It can here be noted that the employed method of calculation results in coefficients in the I/Q filters that are mirror symmetrical between I and Q. The present invention provides a method and an apparatus by which I- and Q-signals according to the expression mentioned above are directly obtained from the sampling without the need to perform digital filtering. The method may be described in the following way: In an initial stage, a number of capacitors connected in parallel is connected to the input signal. During the interval when the sampling is made, one capacitor is disconnected from the input signal at each time of sampling. Each such disconnected capacitor will therefore contain a charge which represents the value (amplitude) of the input signal at the time of sampling. When the sampling is completed, the disconnected capacitors are connected in parallel and their charges are redistributed between them in dependence of the capacitance of the respective capacitor. As will become more evident in connection with the following description of an embodiment, the relation between the capacitance of the capacitors can be chosen so that the resulting voltage across the capacitors connected in parallel corresponds to the expressions for I or Q shown above. In the cases when negative coefficients are part of the expressions, the capacitor which contains the corresponding sample is connected in parallel with reversed polarity. The method implies that a very good phase orthogonality between I and Q is achieved because the relative time positions for the times of sampling can be maintained with high accuracy, in the order of 10 pico seconds. At a carrier frequency of 30 MHz, this corresponds to a phase error < 0,1°, a value which is impossible to achieve by earlier known, analogue methods without active calibration. An apparatus which performs the sampling and interpolation described above is shown in Fig. 2. The amplitude modulated carrier signal 4 is connected to terminal 10 and thus supplied to two identical sampling apparatus 11 and 15. In the sampling apparatus 11 (and 15) the signal 4 is, on the one hand, connected via a switch S1 to a first side of a capacitor C1 and, on the other hand, via a switch S2 to a first side of a capacitor C2. The other side of the capacitor C1 is, on the one hand, directly connected to a "grounding terminal" 12, and, on the other hand, via a switch S5 to the first side of the capacitor C2. The other side of the capacitor C2 is connected via a switch S3 to the grounding terminal 12 and, via a switch S4, to the first side of the capacitor Cl. The first side of the capacitor C1 is also connected to an output terminal 13. The sampling apparatus 15 is identical to the sampling apparatus 11 and is connected to an output terminal 14. The function of the sampling apparatus 11 is the following: In the opening stage, the switches S1, S2 and S3 are closed while S4 and S5 are opened. This means that the capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel to the terminal 10. At the first time of sampling 6, the switch S1 is opened, upon which the capacitor C1 is disconnected from the terminal 10, charged to the voltage a6. At the third time of sampling 8, the switch S2 is opened, upon which the capacitor C2 is also disconnected, charged to the voltage a8. Immediately thereafter, the switch S3 is opened, after which the switches S4 and S5 are closed. This means that the first side of capacitor C2 is connected to the second side of capacitor Cl, and the second side of C2 to the first side of C1, i.e. the capacitor C2 is connected with reversed polarity in parallel with the capacitor C1. The charges of the capacitors are thereby redistributed so that a voltage I is formed across the capacitors connected in parallel, as well as on the output terminal 13. If the capacitance values of the capacitors C1 and C2 are denoted c1 and c2 respectively, I will become = (c1·a6-c2·a8)/(c1+c2). If the capacitance values are chosen so that c2 = 3·c1 I will become = (a6-3·a8)/4, which agrees with the earlier mentioned expression (A) for the I-signal. If the switches of the sampling apparatus 15 are controlled in a corresponding way so that the switch S2 is opened at the second time of sampling 7, and at the fourth time of sampling the switch S1 is opened, a voltage Q = (c2·a7+ +c1·a9)/(c1+c2) is formed on the output terminal 14 once the switch S3 is opened and the switches S4 and S5 are closed. With the capacitance ratio c2 = 3·c1 Q will thus become = (-3·a7+a9)/4, which agrees with the earlier mentioned expression (B) for the Q-signal. In a similar way an apparatus, which as a result provides voltages which correspond to the above mentioned expressions (C) and (D), can be designed. The sampling apparatus (11) must then comprise an additional capacitor C3 with the capacitance c3 and with an associated switch. c2 is in this case chosen to be 10·c1 and c3 to be 5·c1, which corresponds to the coefficients of the expression (C). When connected in parallel after the sampling, C2 should be connected in parallel with reversed polarity because the corresponding coefficient in the expressions have a negative sign. By completing the sampling apparatus 15 in a corresponding manner with a capacitor C3 and with an associated switch, a voltage which corresponds to the expression (D) can be obtained. The I- and Q-signals generated in this way can thereafter be converted to digital form. This can be achieved by means of separate analogue/digital converters for each I- and Q-signals or by a common converter which first converts one of the signals and thereafter is switched to the other signal in order to convert it. In the second alternative, which from the power consumption point of view is the most favourable, the sampling apparatus must be able to keep the value which is to be converted last unchanged during the time needed for conversion of the first one. The sampling apparatus can also be designed such that the capacitors, the related sample of which is included with a positive sign in an expression for I or Q, are connected in parallel for themselves and the capacitors, the related sample of which is included with a positive sign in the expression, are connected in parallel for themselves. In that way two voltages are generated which each separately can be analogue/digital converted after which the voltage corresponding to the complete expression for I or Q can be generated by joining together the digital values of the voltages. At the joining together, the value which originates from the capacitors the corresponding sample of which is included with a negative sign, is to be subtracted. When the conversion is completed, the sampling apparatus is returned to its opening stage and thereafter is ready to take new samples. The switches are controlled by a not shown time control logic. This time control logic can be arranged in different ways and will not cause a person skilled in the art any direct design problems. It will therefore not be described in detail in this connection. When constructing the sampling apparatus, the sampling circuits and possible switches for a common analogue/digital converter are advantageously built together with the required time control logic in one and the same integrated circuit, whereby it is suitable to use CMOS-technology. By means of the apparatus herein described, the number of circuit elements needed for the sampling has been minimized at the same time that the conversion rate for the analogue/digital converter is reduced. This means, among other things, that a higher conversion accuracy can be achieved. The invention also implies that the need for digital filters to obtain a digital quadrature signal from an amplitude modulated carrier signal is eliminated. Space as well as power requirements are therefore considerably reduced compared to earlier known apparatus, at the same time that high accuracy in the I- and Q-channels is achieved. The thus described embodiment has addressed the application of the invented method for an apparatus for obtaining an I/Q pair. The method and the apparatus are however also applicable in other connections when it is desired to weigh a number of samples together and to relate them to one and the same time of sampling. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: Method for sampling of an electrical signal (4) in order to obtain at least one signal summed together from two or more weighted samples, having a sampling operation comprising a plurality of sampling times, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of connecting the electrical signal (4) to a number of capacitors (C1, C2) connected in parallel, at each time of sampling (6, 7, 8, 9) disconnecting one capacitor from the electrical signal, when the sampling operation is completed, connecting the disconnected capacitors (C1, C2) together, by means of which the said at least one signal summed together from two or more weighted samples is generated in dependence of the charge of the capacitors when they are disconnected from the electrical signal and of the capacitance of the capacitors. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the capacitances of the capacitors (C1, C2) are related to each other as the weight coefficients for said two or more weighted samples. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that at each time of sampling (6, 7, 8, 9) the capacitor (C1, C2), the capacitance of which corresponds to the weight-coefficient for the sample related to the time of sampling, is disconnected. Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that at the connection when the sampling is completed, the disconnected capacitors (C1, C2) are connected in parallel whereby the capacitors (C2), the related sample of which is to be weighted together with a negative sign, are connected in parallel with reversed polarity. Method according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that at the connection of the capacitors (C1, C2), these capacitors are connected in groups separated from each other, whereby for each group of capacitors a signal weighted together in dependence on the charges and the capacitances of the capacitors being part of the group is generated. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the capacitors which are disconnected at the first and every second thereafter following times of sampling (6, 8) are part of a first group of capacitors and that the capacitors which are disconnected at intermediate times of sampling (7, 9) are part of a second group of capacitors. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the time between two times of sampling following on from each other corresponds to 1/4 of the period of the sampled signal (4). Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that at the connection when the sampling is completed, the disconnected capacitors (C1, C2) are connected in parallel whereby the capacitors (C1), the related sample of which is to be weighted together with a positive sign, are connected in parallel for themselves and the capacitors (C2), the related sample of which is to be weighted together with a negative sign, are connected in parallel for themselves. Apparatus for sampling of an electrical signal (4) in order to obtain at least one signal summed together from two or more weighted samples, having a sampling operation comprising a plurality of sampling times, characterized in that the apparatus comprises switching means (S1-S5) connected to a number of capacitors (C1, C2) and that the switching means are arranged to in an initial stage connect the capacitors in parallel to the electrical signal, a second stage at each time of sampling (6, 7, 8, 9) disconnect one capacitor from the electrical signal, a third stage connect the disconnected capacitors together and to form at least one signal summed together from two or more weighted samples in dependence on the charge of the capacitors when they are disconnected from the electrical signal and of the capacitance of the capacitors. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the capacitance of the capacitors (C1, C2) relates to each other as the weight coefficients for said two or more weighted samples. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the switching means (S1-S5) are arranged, during the second stage, at each time of sampling (6, 7, 8, 9) to disconnect the capacitor (C1, C2), the capacitance of which corresponds to the weight coefficient for the sample related to the time of sampling. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the switching means (S1-S5) are arranged, during the third stage, to connect the disconnected capacitors in parallel, whereby the capacitors, the related sample of which is to be weighted with a negative sign, are connected in parallel with reversed polarity. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 - 12, characterized in that the switching means (S1-S5) are arranged to connect the capacitors in groups separated from each other and that for each group of capacitors a signal weighted together in dependence of the charge and capacitance of the capacitors being part of the group, is generated. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the capacitors which are disconnected at the first and every second thereafter following time of sampling (6, 8) are part of a first group of capacitors, and that the capacitors which are disconnected at the intermediate times of sampling (7, 9) are part of a second group of capacitors. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the time between two times of sampling following on from each other corresponds to 1/4 of the period of the sampled signal (4). Apparatus according to any of claims 9-11, characterized in that at the connection when the sampling is completed, the disconnected capacitors (C1, C2) are connected in parallel whereby the capacitors (C1), the related sample of which is to be weighted together with a positive sign, are connected in parallel for themselves and the capacitors (C2), the related sample of which is to be weighted together with a negative sign, are connected in parallel for themselves.

Inventors: ARVIDSSON ERIK RAGNAR, ARVIDSSON, ERIK RAGNAR
Applicants: ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H03D1
IPC codes: G11C27, H03D1